From the Sector

Industry-first breakthrough delivers longer-lasting softness so garments remain in active use for longer: Archroma, a global leader in specialty chemicals towards sustainable solutions, launched SILIGEN® D2W LIQ C, the industry’s first durable silicone softener for cellulosic as well as cotton-lycra blended knits. 

Designed to keep the fabric soft and elastic for an extended usage, it is ideal for textile and fashion applications where long-lasting comfort and breathability are important, from undergarments and sleepwear to baby and children’s clothing, dresses and trousers, activewear, T-shirts and towels.

Strong and absorbent, cotton and other cellulosic fibers are among the most widely used premium materials in the textile and fashion industry. To achieve the soft and luxurious handfeel that consumers expect, manufacturers commonly have to add a silicone softener during fabric finishing. In the past, it was necessary to choose between a durable softener that negatively impacted the natural absorbency of the cotton fiber or a softener that preserved the fiber’s ability to hold moisture but also soon washed off through home laundering.

Archroma’s new SILIGEN® D2W LIQ C was developed to overcome these challenges and produce fabrics that maintain their absorbency and their silky smooth feel for longer, extending their use life. SILIGEN® D2W LIQ C imparts an excellent, and highly durable handfeel while maintaining the natural absorbency of cotton. It also has minimum side effects, including no yellowing or phenolic yellowing, and is also compatible even with anionic components and easy-care resins extending the range of possible combinations for functional finishes including crease-resistance.

Dhirendra Gautam, VP Global Marketing and Strategy, Archroma, said, “Archroma is committed to innovation that furthers our planet conscious vision of the future of the apparel and textile industry. As our brand partners increasingly design for longevity, they want to offer garments that remain luxurious and comfortable to wear over a longer life. SILIGEN® D2W LIQ C is a breakthrough innovation that enables a new approach to softening. By enhancing both durability and cotton hand feel, it reduces the need for frequent replacement of garments to conserve resources, minimize waste and lessen the environmental impact of the industry.”

SILIGEN® D2W LIQ C is based on a new patent-pending chemistry from Archroma called micro-x. It is a cross-linkable microemulsion that forms a stable silicone network within the cellulosic fibers, ensuring more uniform distribution of the softener and locking it in to maintain softness over time while bringing wash-resistance.

In addition to developing the new silicone softener, the Archroma researchers also had to find a way to measure the durability of hand feel in an objective way.

“Handfeel was previously evaluated through human perception and expert opinion, but this does not align with our efforts to improve the transparency of the textile value chain and support mills and brands in meeting their sustainability goals,” Michael Schuhmann, Global Marketing Manager Finishing, Archroma Textile Effects, said. “We discovered that we can measure the elastic recovery added to the knitted fabric by the silicone finish and track it through multiple launderings to prove its durability. This enables mills and brands to more accurately quantify handfeel durability for the first time.”

Disruptor technology and a new ColorCut LCF520 roll-to-roll label cutter will be showcased at Labelexpo 2025 on the Plockmatic Group stand. Along with the LCF500 and a technology demonstration of a 4-bladed LCF840Di, designed to eliminate rotary flexi die-cutting, the digital system enables converters – both large and small – to save up to thousands of Euros per job order.   

Large, complex, high precision rotary flexi dies can cost thousands of euros for converters – and getting one from a third-party die manufacturer typically takes 1-2 days. But with Plockmatic Group’s ColorCut LCF range of all-in-one solutions for volume roll-to-roll production, new unique customer orders can be completed on the fly, for ultra short-run digital label production avoiding time-wasting flexi die-cutting. 

Based on the same chassis as the single-bladed ColorCut LCF500 launched earlier this year, the new Plockmatic LCF520 has two blades and unique, patented auto tracking automation to ensure highest cutting accuracy. 

A wide range of shapes and label sizes can be produced on the LCF family, which offers precise, powerful, and easily managed cut functions via its built-in control centre. It includes the added benefit to apply laminates when required using integrated lamination capabilities, along with a range of finishing options for labels, such as waste matrix removal and slitting for finished rolls.

In addition, at Labelexpo Plockmatic will have a prototype behind a screen for a new ColorCut label cutter LCF840Di with 4 heads. Important features include digital web tracking from the infeed table and automated waste removal. This new model is expected to be launched at the end of the year, with sales starting from Q1 2026.

This new model is expected to be launched at the end of the year, with sales starting from Q1 2026.

With a show theme of “Relax – Taking the Stress out of Digital Finishing”, Plockmatic Group’s stand at Labelexpo at Fira Gran Via, Barcelona, Spain, from 16-19 September 2025 will host a wide range of label, cutting and finishing systems for label and flexible packaging markets. Other specific machines include the entry-level LC330 Automated label cutting machine, the Color Cut LC700 Pro for professional applications runs and the ColorCut LC6500 compact, on-demand digital sheet cutter, which is crossover product from labels into light packaging applications, POS and lightweight card projects, as well as kiss-cutting.

“The new LCF520 roll-to-roll label spotlighted at Labelexpo is the newest family member in our disruptor technology that will eliminate the need for rotary flexi die-cutting for converters,” said Terri Winstanley, Marketing Manager, Packaging & Labels, Plockmatic Group UK. “It has the potential to save hundreds of euros, sometimes thousands, per job order. Other benefits include web-to-print label applications in extremely short run, same day dispatch plus converters can save on space where conventional dies used to be stored.”

She added: “The showcasing of this ColorCut LCF520 digital label cutter at Labelexpo will mark another important milestone for Plockmatic Group, as will the prototype LCF840Di that will also be on our stand. We’re anticipating a lot of interest from visitors.”

Artificial intelligence has long been part of design – precise, efficient, omnipresent. At the same time, there is a growing desire for the handmade, for intuition and irregularity. It is exactly within this field of tension that the Heimtextil Trends 26/27 unfold: under the central theme of ‘Craft is a verb’, they show how high-tech, and craftsmanship are not contradictory, but open up new creative perspectives together.

Together with the founders of Alcova, Heimtextil presents a trend landscape in which craftsmanship and digital design methods merge. Tangible textures meet generative patterns, natural structures meet algorithmic precision. This does not create a contrast, but rather an interplay: where traditional craft techniques reach their limits, artificial intelligence opens up new possibilities. This gives rise to a new type of player: the techno-craftsman. He does not see digital tools as competition, but as an extension of his toolkit. Heimtextil Trends 26/27 thus address the current challenges of the creative industry: AI streamlines processes but raises questions about control and creative identity. The trends therefore focus on the lasting importance of craftsmanship – and how AI can meaningfully complement and support it. 

‘The Heimtextil Trends 26/27 illustrate how artificial intelligence will change the textile industry and, in combination with craftsmanship, opens up new perspectives. They provide the industry with impulses for sustainable production methods, innovative cooperation models and the development of future-proof business strategies,’ says Olaf Schmidt, Vice President Textiles & Textile Technologies at Messe Frankfurt.

Alcova is not just about material and aesthetic trends. Rather, the curators focus on an attitude towards the mindful use of AI in design – as a complement to human creativity and as a means of relief and inspiration. This perspective also shapes their work: ‘At Alcova, we are drawn to objects and processes that are unexpected, experimental, even a little unruly – yet somehow find their way into our homes,’ explains Valentina Ciuffi from Alcova. ‘What surrounds us each day should provoke, raise questions, and invite conversation. That's why our focus is on projects that anticipate trends rather than chase them,’ adds Joseph Grima from Alcova. 

Six key trends at a glance
Six key trends illustrate how this fusion of craftsmanship and technology is manifesting itself in concrete terms. They open up different perspectives on how AI and manual design will interact in the future.

1.    Re: media
Textiles that emerge from the interplay of digital design and handcraft: drawings are first transferred into digital renderings, then converted back into jacquards or hand-embroidered patterns. This results in works that reveal the tension between different media. Motifs inspired by glitches – broken aesthetics, pixelated colour gradients and digitally reworked hand drawings can be expected.

2.    Visible co-work
AI provides the designs, humans complete them: in these works, the boundaries between craftsmanship and code become blurred. The design is created using artificial intelligence and is completed through skilled craftsmanship. Examples include digitally embroidered linen, 3D knitted patchwork pieces and generative patterns on classic fabrics.

3.    Sensing nature
Nature is the original source of inspiration here. Its forms, rhythms and structures reveal a diversity that is waiting to be decoded. Digital tools take on the role of translators: the rough surface of the ocean is transformed into a textile grid, while the lichen patterns growing over rocks are turned into decorative motifs through algorithmic processing.

4.    A playful touch
At a time when design is characterised by functionality and optimisation, small decorative details are coming back into focus – not for practical reasons, but for pleasure. A ruffle on an otherwise minimalist curtain, a neon element on a natural-coloured linen blanket or an unexpectedly placed tassel: such gestures act as deliberate interruptions. They remind us that joy remains an essential part of design – and that textiles can also have humour.

5.    Crafted irregularity
Fabrics with knots, irregular dyeing, visible seams and asymmetrical finishes take centre stage. These materials do not hide the craftsmanship but emphasise it – as a conscious counterpoint to the flawless perfection of AI-assisted design.

6.    The uncanny valley
Technical elements such as wires, connections and coils are no longer hidden but deliberately displayed and showcased. They appear as visible details and draw the eye to the inner workings of the machine, rather than its flawless surface. This results in designs that reveal what is hidden – and, with their playful expression, unfold something strange, almost alien.

The colour palette of Heimtextil Trends 26/27
The colour palette ranges from down-to-earth tones to digital irritation: shades such as sand, clay, soot, olive and tree bark convey stability, materiality and connection. However, this natural calm is deliberately disrupted by sharp, synthetic accents such as acidic green, digital lilac and bright screen blue. These ‘glitches’ create tension and turn the colour scheme into a vibrant statement.

From 13 to 16 January 2026, the Heimtextil Trends 26/27 will be presented in an interactive format in the Trend Arena in Hall 6.1.

At the forthcoming ITMA Asia + CITME textile machinery exhibition in Singapore this October, Monforts will introduce the new VertiDry, a vertical dryer for use in combination with coating machines, padders or Monforts EcoApplicator units in the special finishing of technical textiles.

The fully contactless and energy optimised convection dryer is intended for use in combination with a stenter, either before or after it, depending on the specific application, for the essential pre-drying of sensitive fabrics, as well as after the coating of airbags, denim fabrics and glass-fibre substrates. Other envisaged applications include the finishing of sportswear, outerwear, carpets, geotextiles and tarpaulins.

The VertiDry can be integrated into both new and existing finishing lines. A single unit can accommodate approximately eight metres of fabric at any given time and multi-storey versions are also possible. This makes it very adaptable to finishing line configurations.

Power options
In addition, the VertiDry can be powered by all available heating sources, or combinations of heating sources depending on the most economic route for the individual mill. The unit is further equipped with an integrated exhaust air duct and can also be connected to a heat recovery system such as the Monforts Energy Tower.

Different nozzle types are available for the unit which will be supplied pre-erected for shortest installation times. 

“The new VertiDry has been designed in response to demands from the market for a space and energy saving vertical dryer to fulfil the demand in terms of CO2 reduction and the need to integrate into special processes, especially in the treatment of technical textiles,” says Monforts Marketing Manager Nicole Croonenbroek. “With its contactless drying it will help our customers to produce a wide range of high-quality, added value fabrics efficiently and economically.”

OEMs and Tier-1 suppliers in the field of electric powertrains are under increasing pressure to improve performance, efficiency, and scalability of their drive systems. One key enabler now reaching industrial mass-production: composite-based rotor sleeves. These lightweight, high-performance components offer significant advantages in terms of mechanical containment of rotor components to achieve more efficient designs for high-speed rotation – especially in demanding automotive, aerospace and industrial applications. 

Following nine months of collaborative research, a consortium of 15 leading companies – Arkema Group, Covenstro Deutschland AG, DOMO Engineering Plastics Europe S.p.A., Hexcel Composites SASU, Huntsman Advanced Materials, Hutchinson SA CRI, Kümpers GmbH, LG Electronics Deutschland GmbH, Maru Hachi Corporation, Rassini Supensiones S.A. de C.V., Schunk Kohlenstofftechnik GmbH, Swancore Netherlands B.V., Syensqo, Toray Carbon Fibres Europe S.A., Toyota Motor Europe N.V./S.A.  – has completed a comprehensive analysis and benchmarking project led by AZL Aachen GmbH. The project systematically analysed the state of the art, compared materials, design strategies, and processing methods for rotor sleeves made from thermoset and thermoplastic carbon fibre composites. The result is a comprehensive market and technology analysis, documented in a 384-page final report – and ready to be implemented into cooperations.  

To support OEMs and motor developers in leveraging these findings, AZL is now hosting a dedicated web meeting – designed specifically to demonstrate the practical relevance, supply chain maturity, and technology details of composite rotor sleeves for electric drives. Participation is free of charge. 

The event will provide a strategic overview of the technology’s capabilities and will highlight the concrete potential for integration into series production. It starts with an introduction to the current state of the technology and its role in enabling the next generation of electric motors. AZL will then present the consolidated results from the project’s work packages. Key insights include comparisons of rotor sleeve designs (press-fit vs. direct-wound), material classes (thermoplastic and thermoset carbon composites), mechanical and thermal performance benchmarks and production KPIs.  

In the second part of the meeting, participants will get the opportunity to meet the consortium behind the recently finished project – from composite material suppliers and machine manufacturers to rotor sleeve producers. Each partner will briefly pitch their unique expertise and offerings, helping OEMs identify reliable contacts for implementation projects.  

Fabian Köster, Development Engineer Composites at Schunk Kohlenstofftechnik GmbH, explains: “As a technology leader and high-volume manufacturer in the field of rotor sleeves, Schunk considers it essential to actively shape innovation. Our participation in the AZL project reflects our strong belief that future viability and competitiveness can only be secured through early involvement in technological developments. The AZL info event offers OEMs and partners across the entire value chain a valuable opportunity to exchange insights on the current state of rotor sleeve technologies, explore emerging trends, and collaboratively develop solutions for tomorrow’s challenges.”  

For OEMs, this event provides not only an update on emerging technology, it also offers direct access to a ready-to-engage partner network. It also marks the official launch of a follow-up experimental project. 

This follow-up initiative will shift from theoretical analysis to experimental validation. Its goal is to benchmark the performance of different material and process combinations under real-world production and operating conditions. 

The follow project includes four work packages. The first work package will define the production concepts and materials to be tested experimentally, including the design of test methods and auxiliary equipment for press fit operations. The second work package is targeting a production process consisting of separate winding and press fitting on the rotor. It includes manufacturing of sleeves using wet winding, towpreg winding and thermoplastic tape winding. Strength testing of the sleeves will consider different prestress levels, while also the quality of the laminate will be evaluated. The third work package will do the same, but in this case for a process, directly winding on the rotor. Evaluation will also include high temperature testing and long-term durability. Finally in the fourth work package all process and strength test results will be evaluated on cost, quality, and performance, leading to benchmarking of various materials, and clear recommendations for cost efficient rotor sleeves. 

The web meeting, hosted on September 25th, is open to OEMs, motor developers, innovation managers, and system integrators seeking to accelerate their next electric powertrain generation. A registration link will be provided for all interested participants. Contact Philipp Fröhlig (philipp.froehlig@azl-aachen-gmbh.de) for a registration link.

Circular textile technology specialist RE&UP supports BESTSELLER’s women’s brand ONLY in launching a new jersey program of basic tops made from next-generation recycled polyester. The first styles are already in stores. 

Using its modular recycling technology, RE&UP transforms post-consumer and factory textile waste into fibers that meet the same performance standards as virgin materials. In ONLY’s initial production run, over 11 styles were converted to RE&UP’s Next-Gen Polyester, equating to more than 100,000 t-shirts – demonstrating that recycled fibers can be cost-competitive and ready for large-scale adoption. 

Turning end-of-life textiles into fibers ready for mainstream fashion, proving circular solutions can scale today. By integrating recycled fibers into mainstream collections, ONLY sets a benchmark for other brands seeking circular solutions. 

“This project proves that scaling the production of recycled polyester from textile waste is achievable. Transforming the industry is undoubtedly a complex and lengthy process, but initiatives like this demonstrate we are making progress,” says Ozgur Atsan, Chief Commercial Officer at RE&UP. 

"RE&UP shares our dedication to innovation and quality, and their Next-Gen textile-to-textile recycled polyester meets the high standards we set for our products," says Pernille Tøttrup, Sourcing Process Manager at ONLY. 

RE&UP’s technology separates polyester and cotton in end-of-life garments and regenerates them into fibers that maintain durability and performance – all while keeping materials in a true textile-to-textile loop. By reducing reliance on virgin polyester, RE&UP is supporting the industry lower its environmental footprint and showing that scalable, circular solutions are already achievable.

Teijin Automotive Technologies, a European subsidiary of Teijin Ltd., a Japanese global leader in advanced composite solutions, and Aeronautical Service S.r.l., an Italian technology company specialized in innovative ceramic composite materials, have entered into a strategic alliance aimed at accelerating the industrialization of high-temperature resistant components based on proprietary ceramic matrix composite (CMC) technologies.

Under the agreement, Teijin Automotive Technologies has acquired, for its European facilities exclusive production rights in the automotive sector and extended production rights in the marine, aerospace, and industrial sectors. Aeronautical Service (AS), licensing its proprietary technology “FireAlt”, will provide high-temperature resistant, fireproof, and lightweight material formulation.

This collaboration represents a strategic milestone for both companies and aims to:

• Industrialize and standardize the production processes for ceramic matrix composites;
• Scale production to meet international demand from European facilities;
• Jointly develop functional applications;
• Jointly promote the resulting solutions to global institutional and industrial customers.

The use of FireAlt makes a major step forward in enabling energy-efficient, corrosion-free and structurally robust solutions across a wide range of industries. Traditional composite materials, while offering significant weight and performance advantages, have been limited by their fire resistance. With this new generation of high-temperature ceramic matrix composites, it is now possible to design and manufacture structural components, that combine the benefits of lightweight composites with full fire-protection. It opens the door to new applications in transportation, infrastructure and beyond.

The materials at the center of the agreement meet the most stringent international standards (including ISO 2685, EN45545 HL3, A60, and IMO non combustibility certifications), offering exceptional resistance to temperatures up to 2000°C with no smoke or toxic emissions. Combining the innovative ceramic formulations with Teijin Automotive Technologies wide range of industrial production solutions for composite parts, allows the cost effective, high volume production of fireproof components.

“We are proud to partner with Aeronautical Service to bring their groundbreaking technology into serial production,” said Uwe Brinkmann, General Manager of Teijin Automotive Technologies Europe. “This alliance reinforces our commitment to innovation and sustainability in the materials science space, while expanding our capacity to serve all industries.”

“This agreement validates years of research and development,” said Kris Bordignon, CEO of Aeronautical Service. “Teijin's industrial strength and global reach are the ideal match for our licensing model and deep technological expertise. Together, we will reshape the future of fireproof composite applications.”

It’s time to dance to the Rhythm of Blues™ and celebrate AkzoNobel’s Colors of the Year 2026 – an upbeat and versatile color family that’s calming, connecting and creative.

There’s a trio of shades for next year – the light blue Mellow Flow™, the dark blue Slow Swing™ and the vibrant Free Groove™ – so everyone can find a style that works for them. The harmonious collection of signature indigos is just what we need in our homes, according to the results of the company’s extensive annual trend research.

“With everything that’s happening in the world, we see that people are reacting in various ways,” explains Heleen van Gent, Creative Director of AkzoNobel’s Global Aesthetic Center. “They’re either slowing down and recharging their batteries, wanting to feel in tune with others and celebrate kinship. Or they’re choosing to be bold, have fun and feel carefree.”

She adds that the three color palettes will help create living environments that fit everyone’s individual decorative needs. “To reflect these various moods – and because we understand that color is emotion and therefore personal – we’ve chosen a family of colors for 2026. They’re centered around three different rhythms that offer endless scope for changing the pace of your space.”

The colors, textures and special effects that take center stage in the Rhythm of Blues collection have been designed to strike a chord in a wide range of markets. Along with decorative paints, inspirational palettes have also been created for the aerospace, automotive, consumer electronics, metal furniture, lighting, cabinetry, flooring, building products and architecture markets.

“We pride ourselves on setting the tone together with architects, interior designers, trend specialists and product developers – who all make important contributions to our in-depth research,” says Daniel Geiger Campos, Global Director of AkzoNobel’s Decorative Paints business and member of the Executive Committee. “Our Rhythm of Blues family is perfectly in tune with evolving trends in various industries and will help us deliver market-specific solutions to customers so they can more confidently apply their own style to their projects.” AkzoNobel’s Global Aesthetic Center has been translating trends into desirable colors for more than 30 years. Its annual ColourFutures trend forecast meeting brings together in-house experts, international architects, designers and journalists to share insights into how our reactions to the world around us impact our color choices.

At the forthcoming ITMA Asia + CITME exhibition in Singapore, specialists from a 20-strong delegation of British Textile Machinery Association (BTMA) companies will be on hand to discuss some of the highly advanced industries they are now actively supporting.

The manufacture of medical sutures, for example, is a very specialised process and because these items are implanted directly into the human body, every stage of production is tightly controlled to ensure safety, sterility and reliable performance.

Absorbable sutures are usually made from polymers that degrade safely within the body, such as polyglycolic acid, polylactic acid or polydioxanone, while non-absorbable sutures use durable materials like nylon, polypropylene, polyester, silk or even stainless steel. All of these must be of medical grade and fully biocompatible.

The UK’s Fibre Extrusion Technology (FET) is a world leader in both the fibre selection and production technologies behind this industry and in Singapore will highlight a groundbreaking new parallel technology for the medical sector based on supercritical CO2. Further developments in the field of automation and control in advanced fibre production will be highlighted by BTMA members including Autofoam, James Heal, Roaches, Strayfield, Verivide and Wira Instrumentation.

AFP and ATL
From the micro to the macro, sophisticated aerospace technologies such as automated fibre placement (AFP) and automated tape laying (ATL) meanwhile involve the precise placement of carbon fibre tapes or tows on a mould surface, which are then cured to form lightweight yet strong components. 
AFP allows for complex geometries by steering individual tows, making it ideal for fuselage sections, wing skins and other curved structures. ATL, on the other hand, is more efficient for larger, flatter surfaces such as wing covers or stabilisers, where wider tapes can be laid down at high speed with minimal gaps or overlaps. Together, these technologies significantly reduce material waste, improve repeatability and deliver structural performance beyond what traditional hand lay-up methods can achieve.

The UK’s Cygnet Texkimp has developed a new technology to greatly assist this industry which will be unveiled in Singapore.

Collaboration
“High value industries such as aerospace, defence, renewable energy, automotive and the medical sector are areas of high growth and opportunity and an important factor underpinning the success of our companies here is the strong collaboration between industry and the many universities and institutes in the UK,” says BTMA CEO Jason Kent. “Machine builders can also be important in driving material developments as well as technologies.”

UHMWPE
A good example of this is the flexible new process for manufacturing ultra high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) that will be introduced in Singapore by FET.

UHMWPE is prized in many industries due to its extraordinary properties, being for example, ten times stronger than steel by weight. It is increasingly used in medical implants, but the current systems for manufacturing it are on a huge scale, with very complex processing routes.

This restricts the opportunity for new product development – a disadvantage that is fully addressed with FET’s series lab and small scale gel spinning system, which is already industrialised.

“We have supplied many extrusion systems to the biomedical market and in exploring what else we could do for the same customers it became clear that there was a need for smaller quantities of UHMWPE fibres in bespoke sizes.” explains FET Managing Director Richard Slack. “We believe our introduction of a patented batch system for solvent extraction exploiting supercritical CO2 is a game changer.”

Early stage development
Cygnet Texkimp has meanwhile just introduced a next-generation, production-scale prepreg tape slitting machine at its UK Innovation Centre in Northwich.

This enables organisations to trial the slitting of continuous thermoset, thermoplastic and ceramic prepreg tapes for AFP and AFL processes in real-world conditions using their own materials or those produced on Cygnet Texkimp’s in-house R&D prepreg machines on the machine. The technology can slit tapes at speeds of up to 60 metres per minute, subject to the input material.

“We’re pleased to be able to offer partners the opportunity to engage with us at an early stage in process development, to test out their concepts, explore machine parameters, assess output quality and validate performance with support from our expert team,” says Graeme Jones, wide web product director at Cygnet Texkimp.

Splicing portfolio
Also providing back up services to the aerospace industry is Airbond, with splicing technologies which ensure resource efficiency in the processing of extremely expensive carbon and aramid fibres. Pneumatic yarn splicing is a process established in the textile industry for joining yarns and works by intermingling individual filaments closely together, to make joint which are stronger and flatter than knots.

“We are continuing to find new partners in the wind turbine, hydrogen and aerospace industries and are doing a lot of developmental work with research institutes and universities,” says technical director Carwyn Webb. “This is leading to us expanding our portfolio and we are currently working on systems for carbon tape splicing, for example, as well as an automated system for full weaving beams.”

Further developments for the technical textiles and composites sectors will be showcased by BTMA members including Garnett Controls, Roaches International, Slack & Parr and Tatham.

Spirit of openness
“Many BTMA members are currently developing new technologies, either in-house or increasingly through joint projects, and we have much to reveal in Singapore,” says Jason Kent in conclusion. “There’s a new spirit of openness and adventurous interaction in the UK right now – especially in the fields of advanced fibres and technical textiles – which is very encouraging for the future.”

eVent® Fabrics, a leader in breathable waterproof, weatherproof, and windproof laminate technologies, announced that their super light, fast, and highly breathable stormburstLT laminate is now available to cyclists through a partnership with Italy’s Alé Cycling.

eVent introduced the PFAS-free stormburstLT laminate in early 2025. While other brands have adopted the new laminate, the partnership with Alé represents the first time this high-performance laminate will be available to cyclists.   

Purpose made for fast and light adventures, eVent’s stormburstLT is lightweight, highly breathable, has stretch, and repels light rain and snow. Designed with high-output activities and adventure travel in mind, the PFAS-free laminate technology allows heat and moisture to escape ensuring comfortable protection, especially when conditions suddenly change.

eVent partners with apparel manufacturer ITTTAI, an Italian company specializing in premium manufacturing and technical fabrics, dedicated to providing maximum comfort to athletes. ITTTAI provides European-based clients with a variety of services and materials, including eVent’s stormburstLT laminate, to create high-performance, ultra-modern apparel such as Alé’s new FAN and TRACCIA jackets.

“Our stormburstLT laminate is ideal for high intensity activities and our partnership with Alé will give cyclists an incredible option for high performance weather protection,” said Chad Kelly, President of eVent Fabrics. “stormburstLT is a perfect laminate for cycling apparel, providing the right blend of breathability, dynamic movement, and weather protection to keep cyclists comfortable and performing at their best in challenging weather conditions.”

Alé’s FAN jacket for men and women offers warmth, breathability, and water repellency. With a temperature range of -3 to 6℃ and designed using Alé’s Body Mapping system, this light, high performance jacket is engineered to actively protect cyclists from the elements. Ideal for winter use, eVent’s 3-layer laminate fabric is combined with a highly breathable, quick-drying fleece liner, featuring a three-dimensional hexagonal structure. A DWR (Durable Water Repellent) treatment across the entire surface provides protection against light rain.

Alé’s TRACCIA jacket for men is a slimmed down version of the FAN jacket, made for warmer weather and more intense rides. The TRACCIA’s lighter weight fabrics and specialized body mapping to create a high-performance top that better dissipates excess heat, making it ideal for fall and spring riding when temperatures are between 0 and 12℃.

With sleek styling and a unique color palette, the sophistication of these jackets is matched by a range of technical features, including raw-cut cuffs with an aerodynamic profile that seal in warmth and fit comfortably under gloves, a rear hem designed for better grip and to keep the jacket in place, and reflective branding for increased visibility.